What if BMW returned to a manual gearbox on the Z4?
This page is translated from the original post "Et si BMW revenait à la boîte manuelle sur le Z4 ?" in French.
- 22/12/2023 12:58
The German Roadster might soon receive a clutch pedal in an effort to reconcile with the sporty segment of its fan base.
According to our colleagues at Autocar, BMW will begin production of a manual transmission version of the Z4 M40i Roadster in the first quarter of 2024. It would ultimately be a nostalgic step back, as well as a nod to the previous Z4 generation which offered a fun shift knob on the 35i version, adding a charming retro feel.
All variants of the new generation are currently available with the eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. The introduction of a manual option would give the Z4 a valuable selling point against rivals such as the Audi TT and Jaguar F-Type, which do not offer a gear lever. This move should also boost sales. Market analyst Jato Dynamics reports that since the beginning of the year, 5,448 Z4s have been sold in Europe, which is 260 fewer than the TT and 222 fewer than the Porsche 718 Boxster.
The Z4 follows in the footsteps of its sibling, the Toyota GR Supra coupe, which received a six-speed manual last year. However, it is unlikely to share the same architecture as Toyota’s version and will likely use BMW’s own six-cylinder mechanical setup from the lively M2.
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